Theater
Part of the 2010 Taiwan International Festival: Vision of the Future, 1433 — The Grand Voyage (鄭和1433) is a musical inspired by Chinese mariner Zheng He’s (鄭和) legendary 15th-century sea voyages. The work is an international collaboration between U-Theatre (優人神鼓), stage director Robert Wilson and other renowned artists including Oscar-winning art director Yip Tim (葉錦添), jazz musicians Ornette Coleman and Richard Landry and Taiwanese opera diva Tang Mei-yun (唐美雲).
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow
at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Also being staged for the festival is Snow White by Ballet Preljocaj from France, a contemporary production
that reinterprets the fairy tale by focusing on desire and jealousy. Costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Spin 2010 is the latest installment of promising young choreographer Huang Yi’s (黃翊) four-year long project that studies the possibilities of augmenting the human body with technology. [See story on Page 13]
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Sold out except Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Founded by television producer
Wang Wei-chung (王偉忠) in June, All U People Theater (全民大劇團) presents Television Station in Chaos (瘋狂電視台—相聲了沒), a stand-up comedy performed in Mandarin that tells the story of five workers who try to rescue the TV company they work for from bankruptcy. The cast includes comedian Bacy Tang (唐從聖) and theater veteran Luo Bei-an (羅北安).
■ Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
■ Tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$350 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Dazzling lights, thumping techno and audience participation: Fuerzabruta is an exuberant display of theatrics. The show features a shallow pool in which female performers splash and slide about.
■ Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store (新光三越), A10 parking lot (A10停車場), 12 Songgao Rd, Taipei City
(台北市松高路12號)
■ Tomorrow and Wednesday at 7:30pm and 10pm and Tuesday and Thursday
at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$1,900 and NT$2,300, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
On the Road (很久沒有敬我了你), a collaboration between the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) and Taiwan Colors Music (角頭音樂) that integrates “Aboriginal singers with orchestra and documentary film,” opens the musical program of the 2010 Taiwan International Festival.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Autumnal Moments — Victor Coo and Wu Yahsin in Concert (Autumnal Moments — 高炳坤與吳亞欣音樂會) brings together cellist Victor Coo (高炳坤) and pianist Wu Yahsin (吳亞欣) to perform a program of sonatas for cello and piano by Brahms, Debussy and Prokofiev.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center, Kaohsiung City (高雄中正文化中心至善廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 and NT$300, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Council of Cultural Affairs 4th Musical Talent Training Program 2010 National Concert Tour (文建會「第四屆音樂人才庫培訓計畫」— 2010全國巡迴音樂會) features young violinist Tseng Chih-hung (曾智弘), who is currently based in Paris and has already performed with top international musicians. The program includes Schumann’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Minor, Op 105, Prokofiev’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major, Op 94a, Faure’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op 13 and Paganini’s Theme and Variations “I Palpiti” arranged by Kreisler.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday some of Taiwan’s best Aboriginal musicians perform with the National Symphony Orchestra in On the Road, a special show at the National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳) as part of the 2010 Taiwan International Festival. Performers include Kimbo Hu (胡德夫), Samingad (曉君), Pau-dull (陳建年) and Hao-en (昊恩), Jiajia (家家) and the Nanwang Sisters (南王三姊妹).
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Orangegrass (橙草), a post-rock band with an emo-punk singer, plays tonight at The Wall (這牆). Also appearing are Boyz and Girl (男孩們女孩), an indie-pop group led by a female singer with an airy-sweet voice. Later tonight there’s an electro dance party featuring DJ duo Designer Drugs [see the Vinyl Word]. Tomorrow Mrs This (這位太太) takes the stage, followed by Firerama, an all-night reggae party hosted by sound system Black Reign International with DJs Taro and Yahman of Japan [see story on Page 13]. On Sunday it’s an evening of emo and pop-punk with Japanese group The Local Art and Broken Flowers (碎紙花).
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1).
Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net:
www.thewall.com.tw
■ Music shows start at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Tonight
and tomorrow’s dance parties start at 11:30pm.
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 for live bands tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. For tonight’s dance party, admission is NT$800, which includes one drink. Tomorrow’s reggae party is NT$450, which includes one drink. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Seahorse (海馬樂團), a group that performs Mongolian folk music, plays tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Tomorrow it’s Sirens and Blissing.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號).
Tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Admission for music shows is NT$300
Tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), Black Sheep plays Texas-style electric blues. Tomorrow night it’s indie-pop duo JS, and Sunday the venue hosts pop-rock duo Nature Morte (靜物樂團), Mando-pop rapper Nese (倪子岡) and singer GJ. Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam session. On Wednesday io, the Chinese-Canadian rock outfit that won ICRT’s Battle of
the Bands contest last year, shares the bill with garage rockers Mary See the Future.
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building
(台電大樓). Tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm tomorrow, Sunday and Wednesday. Monday’s open jam session starts at 9pm. For a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site.
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and Wednesday and NT$150 Monday
Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts an inspirational speaker, a gospel singing group and Mando-pop singer Shadya (藍又時) tonight. Tomorrow beloved indie-pop band 1976 takes the stage, and Sunday geek-chic rocker Crowd Lu (盧廣仲) plays in a show that sold out more than a month ago. Mando-pop singer Chi Hsin-pei (季欣霈) and folk rocker Elisa Lin (林依霖) appear Thursday.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight and 8:30pm tomorrow and Sunday
■ Entrance fee is NT$450 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow and NT$400 Thursday. Sunday’s show is sold out. Tickets can be purchased online at www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) hosts expat rockers Half Mile Radius and punks Divebomb. Tomorrow, black metal bands Solemn (恕) and The Eye of the Violent (暴力之眼) blitz the venue. On Wednesday it’s emo-rock group BRTD and indie rockers Green!Eyes (綠色眼睛).
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300, which includes one drink. NT$100 on Wednesdays
Jo Jo Ma Quartet, a group led by saxophonist Joseph Marchione, appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow it’s surf rock, blues and jam band sounds from the Blues Vibrations. MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團) plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues on Tuesday, Edamame Jazz Trio (毛豆三重奏) plays Wednesday, and Thursday the venue hosts an open jam session.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1).
Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Music shows begin at 10:30pm tonight and tomorrow, 9:30pm
Tuesday and Thursday and 10pm Wednesday. Closed Sundays and Mondays
■ Admission is NT$100 tonight, free on other nights
Tonight at Roxy Roots it’s swing jazz sounds from the Dark Eyes Gypsy Band (黑眼吉普賽樂團). Tomorrow expat rock band Aurora takes the stage.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 Fridays and Saturdays (of which NT$200 can be spent on food and drink)
The Mercury (水星酒館) in Kaohsiung hosts indie bands every week. Tomorrow indie rock band Windmill (風籟坊) visits from Taipei [see story above].
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號).
Tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Show starts at 8:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$200
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include female singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛隆), who performs every Saturday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號). Tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Tomorrow night Vicious Circle hosts post-rock group Collider and The Looking Glass, followed by DJ sets from Doi Moi, Sunrise Soup and
City Villains.
■ 1F, 8, Alley 26, Ln 205, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段205巷26弄8號1樓). Tel: (02)2777-2218
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is NT$100, includes one drink
When nature calls, Masana Izawa has followed the same routine for more than 50 years: heading out to the woods in Japan, dropping his pants and doing as bears do. “We survive by eating other living things. But you can give faeces back to nature so that organisms in the soil can decompose them,” the 74-year-old said. “This means you are giving life back. What could be a more sublime act?” “Fundo-shi” (“poop-soil master”) Izawa is something of a celebrity in Japan, publishing books, delivering lectures and appearing in a documentary. People flock to his “Poopland” and centuries-old wooden “Fundo-an” (“poop-soil house”) in
Jan 13 to Jan 19 Yang Jen-huang (楊仁煌) recalls being slapped by his father when he asked about their Sakizaya heritage, telling him to never mention it otherwise they’ll be killed. “Only then did I start learning about the Karewan Incident,” he tells Mayaw Kilang in “The social culture and ethnic identification of the Sakizaya” (撒奇萊雅族的社會文化與民族認定). “Many of our elders are reluctant to call themselves Sakizaya, and are accustomed to living in Amis (Pangcah) society. Therefore, it’s up to the younger generation to push for official recognition, because there’s still a taboo with the older people.” Although the Sakizaya became Taiwan’s 13th
For anyone on board the train looking out the window, it must have been a strange sight. The same foreigner stood outside waving at them four different times within ten minutes, three times on the left and once on the right, his face getting redder and sweatier each time. At this unique location, it’s actually possible to beat the train up the mountain on foot, though only with extreme effort. For the average hiker, the Dulishan Trail is still a great place to get some exercise and see the train — at least once — as it makes its way
Earlier this month, a Hong Kong ship, Shunxin-39, was identified as the ship that had cut telecom cables on the seabed north of Keelung. The ship, owned out of Hong Kong and variously described as registered in Cameroon (as Shunxin-39) and Tanzania (as Xinshun-39), was originally People’s Republic of China (PRC)-flagged, but changed registries in 2024, according to Maritime Executive magazine. The Financial Times published tracking data for the ship showing it crossing a number of undersea cables off northern Taiwan over the course of several days. The intent was clear. Shunxin-39, which according to the Taiwan Coast Guard was crewed
RSS